The federal government could save as much as $1 billion per year if the Department of Housing and Urban Development were to reform its low income housing policies, according to an analysis by the National Consumer Law Center. In 2010, the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) spent more than $5 billion for assisted housing, but the analysis found a significant portion of those funds were put to use paying utility costs for poorly insulated, energy guzzling public housing and subsidized rental units. Unfortunately, HUD does not appear to be anywhere close to fully addressing the problem. The NCLC report noted, "[HUD] reported shaving off only $33 million of that multi-billion dollar bill, or 2/3 of 1 percent. Clearly, HUD can do better for the taxpayers..."

The federal government could save as much as $1 billion per year if the Department of Housing and Urban Development were to reform its low income housing policies, according to an analysis by the National Consumer Law Center. In 2010, the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) spent more than $5 billion for assisted housing, but the analysis found a significant portion of those funds were put to use paying utility costs for poorly insulated, energy guzzling public housing and subsidized rental units. Unfortunately, HUD does not appear to be anywhere close to fully addressing the problem. The NCLC report noted, "[HUD] reported shaving off only $33 million of that multi-billion dollar bill, or 2/3 of 1 percent. Clearly, HUD can do better for the taxpayers..." (Wastebook 2010)

The federal government could save as much as $1 billion per year if the Department of Housing and Urban Development were to reform its low income housing policies, according to an analysis by the National Consumer Law Center. In 2010, the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) spent more than $5 billion for assisted housing, but the analysis found a significant portion of those funds were put to use paying utility costs for poorly insulated, energy guzzling public housing and subsidized rental units. Unfortunately, HUD does not appear to be anywhere close to fully addressing the problem. The NCLC report noted, "[HUD] reported shaving off only $33 million of that multi-billion dollar bill, or 2/3 of 1 percent. Clearly, HUD can do better for the taxpayers..."